Repetto, the famous French dance brand, was born from the imagination of Rose Repetto, the mother of a famous choreographer.
An iconic brand
An iconic brand today, the French brand embodies all the imagination of classical dance. Satin ribbons, vaporous tulles and silky leotards: his first boutique, opened in 1959 at No. 22 rue de la Paix, was quickly acclaimed by the little rats of the neighboring Opéra Garnier. Rose Repetto was not only an exceptional seamstress, but also the mother of one of the greatest dancers of his generation, for whom she imagined the most comfortable wardrobe ever, soon to be adopted by the stars.
A request of Brigitte Bardot
But everything accelerated in 1956, when Rose created, at the request of Brigitte Bardot, a city shoe as comfortable as her stage slippers. Thus was born the famous Repetto ballerina, with an impeccable finish (known as “sewn back”), which brought the world of dance into the public domain. The latter are now inseparable from the film And God Created Woman, in which Bardot is at the height of his career. Many big names in dance then obtained their supplies from Repetto: Maurice Béjart, Rudolf Nureyev and even Mikhaïl Barychnikov. In the 1970s, it was another mythical figure who provided the best publicity for Repetto shoes. Serge Gainsbourg fell in love with the Zizi model, which he often wore barefoot and which Rose had created for her daughter-in-law, Zizi Jeanmaire. He then becomes the brand ambassador.
Ballerinas sold at 150 euros
After the death of Rose in 1984, the brand became commonplace and fell into disuse. It was not until 1999 that Jean-Marc Gaucher took over the reins of the company that it regained its splendor. It makes Repetto a luxury brand, with ballerinas sold at 150 euros a pair. He is also internationalizing it, forging partnerships with judiciously chosen designers and brands, such as Karl Lagerfeld in 2009. Today, ballet flats and ballet slippers are still made in France, in Saint-Médard d’Excideuil, the House’s factory. The craftsmen share the pride of their profession, the love of beautiful materials and the attention to detail to make, by hand, exceptional creations. Thanks to technical and fashion products, success is there. Since 2012, the brand even offers a whole line of women’s ready-to-wear inspired by classical ballet. At the crossroads of the woman-child and the aesthetics of an athlete, Repetto cultivates an eternal grace…
22 Rue de la Paix
75002 Paris 2nd 01 44 71 83 12
Metro: Opéra (Lines 3, 7 or 8). Bus: 21, 27, 68 or 95.
